Statkevich to Belarusians: Your warmth enveloped me. And I felt it almost physically
Mikalai Statkevich addressed Belarusians with words of deep gratitude for their solidarity. He says that prison staff convinced him that everyone had forgotten about him in freedom, but he himself felt the warmth and support of people "almost physically."
Dear friends!
Marina and I sincerely thank everyone who congratulated us on my release, who offered support, who supported us all these years.
For us, this is even more important because we know how much effort the ruling regime has made and is making to destroy human solidarity.
In captivity, specially trained officers periodically told me that "everyone has already forgotten about me in freedom, that I am not needed by anyone there." I replied, that even if that were true, what would it change in my position?
But, in fact, I never believed in my "uselessness," because I felt your support both when letters still reached me (I know that many people paid for their solidarity with their own freedom), and when I found myself in complete informational isolation for 3 years. Because your warmth enveloped me. And I felt it almost physically.
The more the authorities fear "their" people, the more effort and resources they direct to destroying solidarity between people, to turning them into a flock of intimidated individuals. But, as we are now convinced, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Because solidarity was ingrained in us at the instinctual level millions of years ago, when our ancestors were not even pre-humans yet. Just like caring for children, for example. And no one can destroy that. Otherwise, we would simply cease to be human. True humans...
And each time it is so touching, so heart-wrenching, when strangers (and this in our thoroughly "cleansed" country!) congratulate us, even cry, seeing us together. Even to tears in our own eyes.
Thank you, People!
But it is very painful to worry about how many people still remain in captivity. Let us remember them, support their relatives, and do everything for their release!
Freedom to all political prisoners!
Mikalai Statkevich
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